Apple launches MacBook Air M5, AI‑focused chip, starts at $1,100
- Apple unveiled refreshed 13‑inch and 15‑inch MacBook Air models powered by the new M5 chip on March 3, 2026, emphasizing AI capabilities. apple.com+1
- The M5 chip features a 10‑core CPU and up to 10 GPU cores, delivering the most advanced AI‑focused processing to date. macrumors.com+1
- Benchmarks show the M5 delivering up to 4× faster AI tasks than the M4, and up to 6.9× faster AI video enhancement and 6.5× faster 3D rendering compared with the M1. macrumors.com+1
- Base models now ship with 512 GB storage—double the M4’s capacity—and optional upgrades to 4 TB, while 16 GB unified memory and a 2× faster SSD boost overall speed. apple.com+1
- Connectivity is upgraded to Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the battery now lasts up to 18 hours on a single charge. theverge.com+1
- Pricing starts at $1,100, a $100 increase over the M4 model, reflecting the storage boost and the advanced M5 processor. theverge.com+1
